After former MAC Coach of the Year Jim McElwain announced he would be retiring, Central Michigan went ahead and hired Matt Drinkall, the offensive line coach at Army, to lead the program in hopes of being competitive in the conference.
The Chippewas were exactly that in 2025. They went 5-3 in league play and 7-6 overall, appearing in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. They hope to make it to the MAC title game this season.
Here’s more about Drinkall and his resume:
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What’s Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Salary?
Drinkall made $622,450 in total pay in 2025, according to USA Today.
Matt Drinkall’s Coaching History
| Years | Team | Position |
| 2025-Present | Central Michigan | HC |
| 2024 | Army | OL |
| 2023 | Army | Co-OC/OL |
| 2020-23 | Army | TEs |
| 2019 | Army | Quality Control |
| 2014-19 | Kansas Wesleyan | HC/OC |
| 2012-14 | St. Ambrose | OC |
| 2010-12 | St. Ambrose | OL |
| 2008-09 | St. Ambrose | WRs |
| 2006-08 | Western Illinois | TEs |
What’s Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Record?
Drinkall is 7-6 in the FBS as a head coach. He’s 0-1 in bowl games.
How Old Is Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall?
Drinkall is 43 years old.
Central Michigan Head Coach Matt Drinkall’s Background
In 2024, Army was first in the country with 300.5 rushing yards per game. The Black Knights also averaged 31.1 points and 381.1 yards per game. Army’s O-line earned the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the most outstanding offensive line in the country.
Drinkall had been at Army since 2019, where he was also a co-offensive coordinator, a tight ends coach, and a quality control coach. Before that, he was a head coach and offensive coordinator at Kansas Wesleyan from 2014-19. He was also an offensive coordinator (2012-14), an offensive line coach (2010-12), and a wide receivers coach (2008-09) at St. Ambrose University in Iowa. He coached tight ends at Western Illinois from 2006-08 and was a wide receivers/defensive backs coach at Bettendorf High School in Iowa from 2003-05.
